Managing a satellite ground station means coordinating multiple equipment chains, tracking access windows, executing procedures reliably across shifts, and integrating with upstream control networks — all while maintaining continuous service availability. ATOMS is Celestia TTI’s answer to this operational reality.
ATOMS is a customisable software framework designed for the implementation of ground station control and automated test systems. Its architecture is generic, modular, flexible, and configurable: the same core platform adapts to different stations, equipment types, missions, and operational scenarios without rebuilding from scratch. Customer applications are built by configuring ATOMS’ powerful database and activating the built-in modules and functionalities needed for each deployment — from single equipment monitoring to full multi-chain station management.
| Module | Description |
|---|---|
| GUI Module | Customisable operator interface for system operation and real-time monitoring |
| Database (DDBB) Module | Central configuration and data storage — the backbone of system scalability |
| Service Module | Background processes managing equipment communication, procedures, and scheduling |
| Procedures Engine | Executes high-level tasks across multiple equipment units, generating associated service reports |
| Scheduler | Time-based task triggering referenced to absolute time or satellite events (AOS/LOS) |
| Ephemeris Processor | Parses OEM, TLE, and STDM files to characterise satellite access windows |
| Equipment Drivers | Hardware interfaces, operable in live or simulation/replay mode |
| Supervisory Interface | Integration layer with upper-level control systems and customer interfaces |
Ground station software developed by engineers who also build the hardware it controls carries a practical advantage: the interfaces, driver architectures, and operational workflows reflect real-world ground station engineering rather than theoretical abstractions.
Celestia TTI has designed, integrated, and commissioned ground stations for space agencies, satellite operators, and scientific observatories across commercial, institutional, and defence markets. ATOMS is the software distillation of this accumulated operational experience.
ATOMS integrates natively with Celestia TTI’s RF management units, SSPAs, BUCs, and front-end controllers — and with third-party equipment through configurable drivers. Customers deploying Celestia TTI hardware gain a tightly integrated software layer without custom integration work.
Beyond standard deployments, Celestia TTI’s engineering team configures ATOMS for specific station architectures, mission profiles, equipment combinations, and supervisory system interfaces — delivering a working system rather than a software kit.
Software development and system integration processes comply with Celestia TTI’s certified quality management systems, providing the documentation and process rigour required for institutional and aerospace sector procurements.
ATOMS scales from individual equipment monitoring up to full station-level control purely through database configuration — no architectural changes required. The same software handles a single amplifier chain or a complex multi-antenna, multi-mission ground station.
Equipment drivers can run in simulation mode to replay scenarios with simulated monitoring data. This enables operator training, procedure validation, and system testing without requiring live hardware — a critical capability for pre-launch verification and station acceptance testing.
The integrated scheduler triggers procedures and tasks based on absolute time or satellite-relative events — AOS (Acquisition of Signal) and LOS (Loss of Signal). Combined with the ephemeris processor supporting OEM, TLE, and STDM file formats, ATOMS handles the full satellite pass workflow automatically.
High-level procedures can span multiple equipment units, executing sequences of commands and monitoring responses. Each procedure execution generates an associated service report — essential for audit trails in institutional and government ground station operations.
ATOMS runs on both Windows and Linux operating systems and is compatible with Virtual Machine deployments — adapting to existing IT infrastructure at the customer facility without imposing operating system constraints.
Native integration with supervisory systems and customer interfaces allows ATOMS to function as the station-level layer within a larger ground segment architecture, passing data upward to mission control or network operations centres.
Teleport operators and satellite service providers deploy ATOMS to manage the RF equipment chains — SSPAs, frequency converters, switches, and redundancy systems — across single or multi-antenna facilities. Automated switchover procedures, equipment health monitoring, and satellite pass scheduling reduce manual workload and operational errors during continuous 24/7 operations.
Celestia TTI has deep expertise in satellite in-orbit testing, and ATOMS provides the software backbone for automated test execution. Procedure scripts drive equipment sequences, log results, and generate service reports — supporting Earth Station Verification and Acceptance (ESVA), in-orbit commissioning, and routine satellite signal verification campaigns.
Scientific ground stations require precise coordination between antenna pointing, receiver front-ends, and data acquisition systems across long observation sessions. ATOMS' scheduler and procedures engine manage complex multi-equipment sequences referenced to source rise and set times, while simulation mode supports operator familiarisation without disrupting live observations.
Large ground station facilities supporting multiple concurrent missions and antenna systems benefit from ATOMS' station-level scalability. Resource management, parallel operation support, and mission-oriented configuration allow a single ATOMS deployment to handle the full complexity of a multi-chain, multi-antenna facility.
ATOMS is designed to be generic and configurable across ground station types — from SATCOM teleports managing uplink chains and redundancy switching, to deep space and radio astronomy stations requiring ephemeris-driven scheduling, to satellite test facilities running automated acceptance campaigns. The database-driven architecture means the same software framework adapts to each station type through configuration rather than custom development.
ATOMS integrates an ephemeris processor capable of reading OEM (Orbit Ephemeris Message), TLE (Two-Line Element), and STDM file formats to characterise satellite access windows. The built-in scheduler uses this data to trigger procedures and tasks at precise times referenced to satellite events — including AOS (Acquisition of Signal) and LOS (Loss of Signal) — automating the pass workflow without manual operator intervention for each contact.
In simulation mode, equipment drivers replay recorded or synthetic monitoring data rather than communicating with live hardware. This enables complete system testing, operator training, and procedure validation without requiring the physical equipment to be present or operational. It is particularly valuable during system commissioning, pre-launch verification campaigns, and operator familiarisation programmes.
Yes. ATOMS includes integration capabilities with upper-level supervisory systems and customer interfaces, allowing it to function as the station-level layer within a larger ground segment. This is relevant for facilities that must report to a central network operations centre or mission control system, or where ATOMS must coexist with existing monitoring infrastructure.
ATOMS supports both Windows and Linux operating systems and is compatible with Virtual Machine deployments. This multiplatform flexibility allows ATOMS to be deployed on existing customer IT infrastructure without mandating a specific operating system or hardware platform.
RF Management Units are hardware products — physical switching, routing, and control units installed in the ground station equipment rack. ATOMS is the software framework that runs above them, providing the operator interface, automated procedures, scheduling, and reporting functions. Together they form a complete ground station monitoring and control solution: the hardware manages the RF signal path, and ATOMS manages the hardware.
